The Marianna Show is a new online talk show – and welcomed Anna Kennedy OBE as the first guest.
The show was launched on its very own YouTube channel on Feb 27. Anna openly discusses living and working with autism and we have covered many stories here on Autism Daily Newscast about the work that Anna and her charity, Anna Kennedy Online do.
Anna shares on the show her life and daily challenges with her two sons, both of whom are on the spectrum. Both of her sons were rejected by mainstream education and Anna therefore decided to take matters into her own hands. Anna and her husband Sean opened Hillingdon Manor School in 1999. They started out with 19 pupils and now have 150 autistic children,making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
Throughout the show, Anna honestly talks about her personal experiences and how they have led to several initiatives and achievements, including Hillingdon Mannor, a best selling book, ‘Not Stupid’ and the charity Anna Kennedy Online. Through her work with autism, Anna has not only created an online support system for families all around the world but she has also retrieved her own support from various sources including West Ham Football Club.
Anna also revealed that she is embarking on a brand new project with Walt Disney that she has created to help and support families suffering from autism.
Anna said:
“I was invited onto the show to discuss my experiences. It is extremely important to discuss personal experiences, and not to sugar coat them. With so much information available, often contradicting and complicated, it is important that parents and families have a support group that is readily available to them whenever it is needed. I ensure that I respond personally to all requests and try to answer all queries and questions. Autism is a constant learning process, and it is vital that valuable information and experiences are shared. I do not shy away from discussing the challenges that I have, and still am facing, and the show has provided a fantastic platform to raise awareness.”
The Marianna Show, which focuses on key topics, aims to raise awareness and inspire its viewers.
Marianna had this to say about Anna Kennedy:
“It’s real people with real problems. It’s like Embarassing Bodies for the mind. Our interviewees discuss real topics, that affect everyone. And we discuss them honestly and openly. There are no limits, and viewers can really relate to and emphasise with the guests. Anna Kennedy is an extraordinary woman, and to have faced so many challenges, yet received so much really is inspiring. She is a power house and I have so much admiration for her.”
To see Anna in action, and to follow the Marianna Show, please subscribe to the dedicated YouTube channel here
For further information regarding Anna Kennedy, events and charity work, please visit the website.